WFTV-Channel 9 reporter suffered a bloody nose in the attack.

A WFTV-Channel 9 reporter told Orange County sheriff's deputies an unsolicited interview between a crew with Spanish-language Univision and Anthony's surviving brother sparked the melee at St. Andrew Catholic Church, where family was holding a vigil.

Orange County Sheriff's Office spokesman Jim Solomons said deputies did not arrest the suspects Monday night at the Hastings Street church "out of respect to the family members of the deceased child."

Reports show the Univision crew had interviewed 15-year-old Miguel Rodríguez, who also was struck by the hit-and-run driver on Nov. 3, without permission from his parents.

A man "came out of the church approximately 5 to 10 minutes after Univision had interviewed [Miguel]…He was very angry and asked for the reporter who had done the interview," deputies said.

The first person the man ran into was WFTV cameraman Bernard Moynahan. The cameraman fell as he walked away from the angry mourners and they punched and kicked him while he was on the ground.

Moynahan suffered a bloody nose.

The mourners then started running after the Univision crew, but they left the church without getting hurt. Another mourner returned to Moynahan and continued to beat him, witnesses said.

Moynahan and a WKMG-Channel 6 reporter captured the attack on video.

A sheriff's deputy watched the videos at the scene and they matched the witness accounts from the reporters and injured cameraman.

Sheriff's deputies did not identify the alleged attackers. If arrested, they could face battery charges.

"It's regrettable and most unfortunate," WFTV news director Bob Jordan said. "When I step back and take a larger picture, I see the case of a father going through the most difficult emotional period in his life, losing a son. I can empathize with that. In a highly emotional state he did something he regrets."

Jordan added, "This is a law-enforcement matter. We're not taking any action as a television station."

A hit-and-run driver struck Anthony, a freshman at University High School, as he and Miguel walked to their school-bus stop on Valencia College Lane. Anthony died from his injuries Nov. 4.

Florida Highway Patrol Sgt. Kim Montes said 29-year-old Eric James Wydra is a suspect in the fatal hit-and-run accident. Troopers have not filed charges against him.

Montes said an investigation is ongoing and it could take eight weeks to get the results of Wydra's blood sample.

Hal Boedeker of the Sentinel staff contributed to this report. Walter Pacheco can be reached at wpacheco@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-6262.